WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Interim head coach Melissa L. Hodgdon has announced the addition of Amani Franklin, Jackson Jabir and Janelle Harrison to the Hartford women's basketball team's coaching staff.  

"We are excited to continue the improvement we have made on and off the court the last two years. We will stay committed to the vision Morgan Valley brought to the University of Hartford in 2019," Hodgdon said. "The goal of this program, which has a tremendous history of success, is to represent this University on and off the court by bringing the best version of ourselves collectively and individually everyday."
 
Franklin joins Hartford as an assistant coach after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach at Robert Morris. Franklin has been a part of two Northeast Conference (NEC) regular-season championship staffs in 2017-18 and 2019-20. In her three seasons as an assistant coach at Robert Morris, the program finished 52-28 (.650) overall and 37-15 (.712) in league play. The 2018 Colonials earned a bid to the Postseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), while the 2020 side advanced to the NEC Tournament semifinals before the COVID-19 pandemic put an abrupt end to the season.
 
"Amani Franklin is joining us from RMU. She is a coaching prodigy of the legendary Pat Head Summit coaching tree," said Hodgdon. "Amani and her Kentucky team made the NCAA Elite 8 in 2010 and has played professionally in Finland and Germany. Aside from her knowledge of the game and ability to recruit, she takes great pride in mentoring, which to me is what coaching is truly all about."
 
Prior to her arrival at Robert Morris, Franklin spent the 2016-17 season at Winthrop as the director of women's basketball operations. Before that, she spent two years as a staff support associate at her alma mater Kentucky. 
 
As a player, Franklin helped lead Kentucky to the 2010 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. She appeared in 127 games over her four seasons in a Wildcats uniform, starting 76 of them. Franklin averaged 7.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest as a senior in 2009-10, and tallied a career-high 11.3 points per game in her junior season. Franklin graduated from Kentucky in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in agricultural economics with a minor in business.
 
Jabir joins Hartford as an assistant after spending a year in Denmark as the assistant basketball coach for the SISU Basketball Club. While in Denmark, he also served as head coach for five youth basketball teams ranging from age groups U13-U18, focusing on skill development and overall understanding of the game. Jabir's father Jim currently serves as the head coach of the Siena women's basketball program.
 
"Jackson developed a passion for the game and a keen eye for scouting, recruiting and loves player skill development," Hodgdon said. "He is creative, thoughtful, excited and enthusiastic about this opportunity, and I am so grateful he is joining us. He was a male practice player and captain with Dayton women's basketball. He led the scout team and helped Dayton get to two NCAA tournaments."
 
A standout member of the Hartford women's basketball program from 2014-18, Harrison joins Hartford's staff as the director of basketball operation. 
 
"I met Janelle our first year here and she told me that she wanted to be a DOBO," said Hodgdon. "I am glad she has that opportunity with us now and I know she will help our program and student athletes excel on and off the court."
 
A two-time America East All-Defensive Team selection, Harrsion helped lead the Hawks to two America East Championship appearances (2015, 2018) during her time in West Hartford. Since graduating with a degree in communications in 2018, Harrison has played basketball professionally in Portugal, Lebanon, Puerto Rico and Egypt.

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